Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-11-12
GENERAL NEWS.
Trouble Between Sparks
and Lamar.
ONE OF THEM TO RESIGN.
Promising Prospects for Del
CampO's Steamship Line
Well Subsidized.

Associated Press Di patches to the HBEALD.
WASHINGTON, November 11.-Sec
retary Lunar this afternool sent {
letter to Commits ioner Sparks sharply
rep ying to communication from the
latter relative to the adjustment of the
Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Omaha Railroad land grants, inform
ing Sparks in conclusion that he or
the Secretary must for hwith retire
the Department.
THE CASE IN POINT
Is that wherein Sparks decided that
the Omaha Road had forfeited a large
amount of their granted land. Shortly
after the Secretary reviewed Spark s
decision and reversed it, restoring the
lands to the railroad company.
Sparks wrote long letter to
the Secretary, protesting against
the reversal. The Secretary, in reply,
says he is fortunately able to answer
it 'nvenicntly and with rapi' iity.
becau-e every point submitted by
Sparks had been subject OF recon-
sideration, having been presented
through the columns OF the press,
whose enterprise put them i'll posses
sion of those points before. 81 was
surprised that the decision referred to
in Your letter had incurred your dis
approval and met with your displeas-
ure."
CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
The Secretary then goes on at great
length to consider the points in his
decision which Sparks had claimed
were erroneous, and to show why,
from his standpoint, they were cor
rect. 81 have" adds he, "neither
disp ,sition to enter upon polemic
discussion with subordinate nor to
engage with him in this instance in
gladiatorial combat, especially so in
matter which has received my
careful attention. 1t is matter of
pressing importance in the public ad-
ministration of my public duties.
IN NO OTHER WAY
Can the functions of great public
department be successfully executed
than for the chief to command and
the subordinate to obey.
After further considering the various
points raised by the Commission, the
Secretary says: Il tad conceived 1t
my duty as the head Of this depart
ment to direct you as to what
duties l require you to perform
l had also conceived it TO be equally
your duty under the same obligations
to obey my instructions or Withdraw
yourself from the duty of so dong in
the only way recognized under e
laws and usages of public fe in civil
lied countries; especially SO, when
was myself but acting in
DIRECT CONFORMITY
To recent act of Congress-, which
imposes upon me the exclusive duty
of causing these grants. to be adju ted.
The practical object of your present
course is that you cannot obey my
orders and follow my instructions AMI
co-opera'e in my administration With
out sur endering opinions which
should be conscientiorsly entertained
With reference to vitality important
interests.
IT is IMPOSSIBLE
For me, in contravention OF my own
opinions arrived at after lengthy and
anxious study, to surrender them to
you. Under those circumstances,
it is due to the orderly and deco
rous administration of the Gov
ernment, to the important pub
lie interest, to the common cause
confded into our hands by the Presi-
dent, and to the personal regard we
should both entertain for him that he
shall be allowed to choose a Secretary
of the Interior who will conform his
administration to his opinions, or ap-
point Commissioners Of Public Lands
who will administer his bureau in a
harmonious spirit, and in concert of
action with the chief of the depart
ment. This alternative l shall submit
to the President"